Sojitz Corporation, Sumitomo Chemical Co and Mitsui Chemicals have concluded a share purchase agreement in which Sojitz will acquire shares in Nippon A&L, a company engaged in R&D, manufacturing, and sales of SBR latexes and ABS resins. Following the necessary share acquisition procedures, Sojitz is expected to purchase 66.5% of shares in Nippon A&L in July 2025. Following this acquisition, Nippon A&L will become a consolidated subsidiary of Sojitz. Terms were not disclosed.
As a joint venture of Sumitomo Chemical and Mitsui Chemicals, Nippon A&L’s SBR latex used as anode binders for lithium-ion batteries (LiB), for which demand is expanding due to the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. In the field of SBR latex for paper processing, the company boasts one of Japan’s leading supply chains and is highly regarded in both areas. Additionally, in ABS resin used for automobiles and home appliances, Nippon A&L has a stable customer base both domestically and internationally, supported by its high level of technological expertise.
Sojitz has a history of handling LiB products, including Nippon A&L products, from the early days of the LiB industry and is expected to leverage its management resources and expertise in order to contribute to raising Nippon A&L’s corporate value further.
Sojitz’s acquisition of Nippon A&L shares marks an initiative in this energy and materials solutions field. Its customer network in the chemical industry includes over 5,000 companies in Japan and overseas, and the company is engaged in the chemical trade business handling a wide range of products from basic chemicals such as methanol to synthetic resins and other functional materials in addition to inorganic chemicals such as industrial salts and rare earths.
Sojitz’s Chemicals Division has positioned one of its growth strategies as the creation of next-generation businesses.